Speed Queen AWN542: I've Joined The Club!

[frigilux]

I enjoy having a top-loader as a 2nd washer in my laundry room, and generally switch out models every few years to try something new. The Frigidaire Immersion Care has been a fun machine to play with, but all the talk of Speed Queens lately had me itching to get one, too.

I placed an order for an AWN542 only moments ago! My small-town appliance dealer has to wait to amass a larger order before getting mine, so it will be awhile before it arrives. He has an AWN432 on the showroom floor, but I want the step-up model.

Checked the archives and saw how easy it was to defeat the lid switch (thanks, Yogitunes) and raise the water level, so I'm in.

This will probably be the top-loader that finds a permanent home in my laundry room.

Washman, I guess I have you to thank for depleting my bank account, LOL. The power of suggestion at work. Looking forward to owning the last of the old-school spin-drain washers.

Now, some questions for those of you with an AWN542:

1) Is there actually a gentle agitation speed, or is "gentle" actually regular, intermittent agitation?

2) It appears the machine spin-drains and shuts off at the end of the soak cycle; or does it automatically advance to Prewash and the regular cycle?

3) Speaking of Prewash, is that simply an extension of agitation time, or does it drain and refill for the main wash?

4) Does the Perm Press cycle have a cool-down? If so, how does it function?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can reply with helpful information.[this post was last edited: 9/27/2013-13:32]

 

[mtn1584]

AWN 542 has the following features.................

Gentle Speed is actually a slower agitation and spin speed.
Pre-Wash WILL advance to the wash cycle...Fill, agitate, drain, fill again for wash.
No cool-down on Perm Press...works great though, I wash all my dress shirts on the PP cycle....Regular agitation for 10 minutes, more if you select the Regular Cycle and Perm Press on the Fabric Selector, and a slow spin speed!
Hope I have answered your questions, and in five years, I have never used the Soak cycle.
Mike

 

[mtn1584]

BTW

Congrats. and welcome to the club!!!
Mike

 

[jeffg]

Eugene, here's a fast/slow chart for your washer. It covers some finer points of combining timer cycles and fabric selector options:

http://www.clarkwholesale.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/AWN542-Timer-Features.pdf

 

[mrb627]

Congrats and...

JEALOUS here.

Malcolm

 

[washman]

Washman takes a bow

and also asks Alliance Laundry for a cut of the dinero for his tireless promotion of simple, USA made, old school, built like a tank washers.

Congrats on your purchase. The 1,000+ dedicated union represented employees in Ripon thank you also. So does the CEO. So does Guvnor Walker.

OTOH, you MUSt keep secret your choice of a water guzzling user friendly machine from Algore and his cohorts lest you be subject to a water tax of sorts that will surely kill your enthusiasm for this fine machine.

Remember, I told you so.

 

[frocco]

Congrats on your purchase.

I am on the fence between a Maytag 7000 and the SQ TL or FL

 

[yogitunes]

Thanks for the link JeffG.....but it does not allow the variations I was hopeing for.....there are parts where the timer still controls/defaults the speeds....

I was expecting this to be like the GE FilterFlo.....I could select any speed for wash or spin to any cycle selected, and create my own variations....like using regular speed wash/spin, and use the gentle cycle, which now converts to a short cycle for a quick wash...

or PermPress and fast wash/spin speeds for towels, the extended spin spray is excellent for rinsing....

with the SQ...you can alter some, but not total control as expected...

 

[golittlesport]

Is the extra rinse option a deep rinse or spray rinse?

 

[frigilux]

Frocco--- It's a tough choice! For a front-loading washer, I'd go with the Maytag, simply because it has more cycle flexibility, and if you like to wash large items like comforters, the Maytag's large capacity comes in handy.

My "daily driver" (as we like to call them, here) is a 2010 top-of-the-line Frigidaire front-loading washer. I like it a lot, they've not given me a bit of trouble (nor did my 1996 or 2002 Frigidaire front-loaders), and they were reasonably priced for all the features they offer.

I've always preferred front-loaders. I think they clean better; they're gentler to clothing; and you can opt for a very fast spin speed if you want it. Items emerge half dry! They spend substantially less time in the dryer. Great for loads of towels, sheets, etc. They are custom-built to wash large, bulky items like comforters, bedspreads, sleeping bags, etc. I love having an internal water heater to for tough loads of very-stained kitchen whites, and for bed linens.

The top-loading Speed Queen I just ordered will be fun to play with, and it will last a long time. But it will never be my "daily driver".

[this post was last edited: 9/27/2013-16:02]

 

[foraloysius]

Congratulations Eugene! Looking forward to a full report! What happens to the Frigidaire Immersion machine?

 

[jeffg]

Rich, it's a deep rinse.

Martin, not sure if this is part of what you're looking for, but there's a sweet spot on the timer control (about 2/3-3/4 of the way through the first spin cycle) that, when manually set, forces an extended spray rinse. Basically as long as you want, up to about three minutes. We use it all the time for towels and sheets, and after every washday to clean the tub It's not documented in the manual and I have no idea if other washers have the same spot.

 

[frigilux]

I stopped by the local LG-Whirlpool-Speed Queen dealer to look at the AWN432 that was on the floor, and honestly, I was not impressed.  The lid was flimsy and didn't sit flat on the bumpers when closed. When I ran my index finger over part of the tub, sure enough, there was the dreaded greasy polishing compound.  Doesn't make for a great first impression, that's for sure.

 

The 432 has a soak cycle and a prewash option in the regular cycle just like the 542.  It appears the only real advantage to the 542 is the speed selector.  Thought I might just buy the 432 rather than waiting for the 542 to be ordered. (Instant gratification junkie!)

 

But after seeing that warped lid and the grease in the tub, I'll wait and hope the 542 doesn't come with the same flaws.

 

 

[washman]

I hope so as well

Mind was ok with regard to the polishing compound in the tub.

 

[frigilux]

Mike-- Thanks for the information. I will definitely make use of the Soak cycle when I run a test load of heavily-stained kitchen whites.

Jeff-- Thanks for the detailed chart of speed combinations. Have saved it for reference when the 542 arrives.

Malcolm-- Jealous? You have a freakin' Miele, man! I'm the one who's jealous!

Rich-- The extra rinse is a deep rinse, which can be added to the list of sensible things about the washer.

Louis-- Thanks! There are plenty of videos of SQ top-loaders in action, so I doubt I'll bother with that, but am excited to put the machine through its paces. The Immersion Care has been gifted to a friend's daughter who recently graduated from college. She's renting a tiny but cute little house in town and is thrilled to have made her last trip to the laundromat. Her grandparents gave her their old Kenmore dryer. She's a great kid, and I'm glad to help her out.

Washman-- I'm more than happy to support union workers! Question for you: Is the hot water temp dumbed-down on your 542 or do you get whatever temp is at the tap? (My gas water heater is set at 140 degrees.)

 

[mtn1584]

Hot water temp is NOT, I repeat NOT dumbed down!! When my brother recently bought his AWN542, the salesman told him it was the last top loader with an actual HOT WASH!! So whatever your water heater is set at ...voila there is your hot water temp!
Mike

 

[washman]

Frigilux yes as hot as your water heater

only the warm is dumbed down temp wise

 

[yogitunes]

@jeff....

I was just hopeing the SQ with the fabric/speed selector was gonna allow total control over the speeds and mix/match to the cycles....the variations would have been endless...

I was recommending this to a friend where there is a high pump out height, as long as its set to a high speed spin, these have no issues.....but thats not the case with this machine, for instance, Gentle is defaulted to a slow spin no matter what is selected....

Thanks just the same

 

[frigilux]

Martin-- Saw the post you made (archived) about how to disable the lid switch.  Looks simple.  Between the SQ and your help with doing the same for the Immersion Care, you are my go-to guy for disabling lid switches!

 

Ben and Mike-- Thanks for confirming what I hoped would be true.  No dumbed-down hot water setting!